What Are Some Highly Rated Bourbons?

In 2014, Blanton's Gold Edition bourbon whiskey won the coveted Bourbon Trophy at the International Wine and Spirit competition, making it one of the country's highest-rated bourbons. Gayot rates Elijah Craig 21-year-old single-barrel and Jefferson's Presidential Select 21-year-old among the best bourbons in the country.

Other highly rated bourbon brands include Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit, Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20-year-old, Four Roses Small Batch, Old Forester 2014 Birthday Bourbon and Woodford Reserve Seasoned Oak Finish. Bourbon, which must be made in the United States to be included in the category, is a whiskey that is aged in American white oak barrels and contains a minimum of 51 percent corn, according to the BATF.